PIN-ON-RECIPROCATING PLATE TRIBOMETER WITH A PROVISION FOR CHANGING STROKE LENGTH

Proud achievements for CET!
The patent was awarded to the College of Engineering Trivandrum.
Congratulations to all the Inventors for the remarkable achievement.

Inventors: Dr. Rajeev V R , Dr. Premkumar J, Dr. Harish T V and Mr. Unnikrishnan G

Department of Mechanical Engineering of College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET) had developed a “PIN-ON-RECIPROCATING PLATE TRIBOMETER WITH A PROVISION FOR CHANGING STROKE LENGTH”. This is used to measure friction and wearloss in metallic materials having relative reciprocating motion with larger stroke length. The tribometer was
developed under the guidance of Dr. Rajeev V R by the research scholars Harish T V and Premkumar J along with the lab instructor of CET Mr. Unnikrishnan G as a part of their research. The tribometer will help automotive and machinery manufacturers to assess the friction and wear in their products. The tribometer is capable of providing stroke lengths of 50 mm, 100mm, 150 mm and 200 mm for tribotesting. Depending on the stroke length the tribometer can test specimens at a maximum average speed of 3 m/s. Induced vibration is a major problem in friction and wear testing with reciprocating tribometers, and the developed tribometer has a provision to assess the induced vibrations. Shaping machine, reciprocating
saw, piston and cylinder mechanism, reciprocating feeder mechanism in material handling systems, hydraulic and pneumatic presses, printing presses are some examples of machines having reciprocating sliding motion. Specimens made from all types of metals, alloys and composites can be tested in the developed tribometer. It took nearly a year to develop this tribometer. Though the patent application was filed in May 2020, the patent was awarded in March 2025 only. Funds from the Research Seed Money project awarded by Centre for Engineering Research and Development (CERD) under the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University of Kerala utilized for the development of the tribometer. Nearly one
lakh rupees was spent for the development of the Tribometer.

Dr. Rajeev V R is a native of Balaramapuram, Dr. Harish T V is native of
Karakkamandapam and Dr. Premkumar J is a native of Ulloor, all in Thiruvananthapuram district. Mr. Unnikrishnan G is a native of Ramankulangara in Kollam district. This is the 12th patent awarded to the Government-owned College of Engineering, Trivandrum. College of
Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram was established in 1939. CET now has eight full-fledged departments offering eight undergraduate, 27 postgraduate and doctoral programmes under the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. The College has around 4500 students.
B.Tech, B.Arch, M.Tech, M.Plan, MCA and MBA are the programs offered by the College.